Compensate family of Felani Khatun: Indian NHRC

Indian National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recommended payment of Rs 0.5 million to the family of Bangladesh girl Felani Khatun, shot dead by BSF troops four years ago along India-Bangladesh border in Kurigram. Border Security Force (BSF) along the border in 2011. The Commission asked the Indian central government to pay the compensation through the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh, said Advocate Abraham Lincoln, a public prosecutor of Bangladesh's Kurigram district bordering India. Felani’s father Nurul Islam said, “Money can’t give me my daughter back. I want trial of the murder first. I want death penalty of killer BSF man Amiyo Ghosh.”
“I demanded compensation but as a father I want trial of my daughter’s killing,” he added. Felani was shot to death by BSF while she was crossing the barbed-wire fences at Anantapur border point in Kurigram on January 7, 2011 which triggered huge global outcry. After investigation, the BSF submitted the chargesheet against its constable Amiyo Ghosh who shot the teenage girl. On August 19, 2013, a special court constituted by the BSF had acquitted Amiyo Ghosh of the charge.
Meanwhile, in the wake of widespread criticism of the acquittal, the BSF decided to revise the murder trial. On July 3, the BSF special court in Cooch Behar of India's West bengal state upheld its previous verdict that acquitted BSF constable Amiyo Ghosh in the Felani killing case.

- biplab